Multiple-purpose hand tool



M0317, 1960 B. sTRvlANl 2,937,004

MULTIPLE-PURPOSE HAND TOOL Filed Nov. 16, 1956 thereon.

Va wall structure.

z claims. (cl. 2554-131) The present invention relates generally to the field pf hand tools, and more specifically to carpe t e that is particularly adapted for use in dismanthy i r ingstructre's. In the past it has been common practice to employ implements such as crowbars n the wrecking of buildings, dismantling of` partitions, or removal of molding from a wall structure, but this instrument is not l entirely satisfactory for this purpose as in many instances it is impossible to place it in a levering position to obtain a prying or forcing action therewith.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a hand tool of unique design that defines a jaw particularly adapted for gripping an upright member such as a stud or the like, which easily separates the stud from a supporting structure when a twisting force is exerted Another object of the invention is to supply a modified device of the character described above that embodies the use of a pressure plate and jaw structure by means of which molding may be simply and easily separated from Still further objects of the invention are to supply a compact tool that has no moving parts, can be fabricated from standard, commercially available materials, and which due to its novel design, is particularly well adapted for use in the building trades for use in gripping, twisting, or prying members loose from their supporting structures, as well as serving as a means to remove nails therefrom.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a multiple-purpose device of the type described of such simplified structure that it can bemanufactured and sold at a sufficiently low price asto encourageits wide-spread use. a

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred and alternate form thereof, and from the accompanying drawings illustrating same, in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tool showing its manner of use in removably gripping yand separating a stud from a supporting structure;

Figure 3 is a combined horizontal cross-sectional and top plan view of the device taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a first alternate form of the invention; and, Y

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the lower portion of the tool shown as utilized in separating molding from a supportingl wall structure.

Referring to the drawing for the general arrangement of the preferred form of the invention, it will be seen to include an elongate rigid member A, one end of which develops into a hook-defining portion B which is provided 2,937,004 ,tte-e4 Me 11.1969

litera-ny separate-a 'una n 'and E. rue tine .ein

best be seen in Figure 1, is formed from an extension o f member A that has a curved, downwardly projecting portion 1 0'which develops into a substantially flat, straight `endwprtiorr y-Portion 1 2 is preferably wider thap zfes'iOnlQ, and il? 95S .Section tapers in much the Sams f manner as a chisel, to permit initial insertion of ex# t'r'enity 12 within relatively narrow crevices o r cracks, Tine D is formed as a separate element which has a rear; wrdly disposed, generally wedgejshaped end portion 114 thatfis welded l'ory otherwise afiixed to the inner curved io'fio' 0f' timeV E- Tine D also has an, vannns-i 11 1.4,@ that fctlrves Y"slightly downwardly and outwardly and `projects from the wedge portion 14, the outermgst edge portion -16 of which is substantially straight. Due' 1.0 ili .coigurat'ign 'threof 'tiges D and E. define a Space 29 @Bashar/sen 'in which a stud .2,2 or ether membrniay be' removably locked, with the narrow extremity 26 'of tine E digging into the material forming the member Z2 to prevent inadvertent displacement therefrom. It will be immediately apparent from an inspection of Figure 2 that the tool Vabove described permits easy, quick-separation of studs or other members 22 fromr their supporting structure when the tool is rotated in either a horizontal or vertical plane. t

The hook B comprises. a curved, outwardly extending portion, the extremity of which taperingly develops into al hat slotted portion C. Portion C has two laterally spaced legs 32 and 34 which define a slot 36 therebetween that is of such width as-to permit engagement of a nail thereby to remove the nail from the member in which it is embedded when the invention is rotated in the proper direction. As previously mentioned, hook B not only serves as a means for removing nails prior to dismantling a structure, but also as a handle by which the invention may be easily and conveniently carried by the hand in a downwardly depending position.

A rst alternate form of the invention is shown in Figure 4, which is preferably ismaller in dimension than the form above described, but includes a rigid member A having a hook B' formed on one end thereof that is also provided with a nail-extracting extension C. This alternate form of the invention, like the preferred form, develops on the end opposite that on which hook B' is disposed into two laterally spaced tines F and G. Tine G, as may best be seen in Figure 5, is formed from a portion 28 of member A', which portion curves downwardly pressure plate 36 between the interior surface of molding 38 and the exterior surface of the wallv structure 40'. Molding 38 (Figure 5) is removably engaged between tines F and G, and when the invention is manually rotated Vin a clockwise direction, the molding vis pivoted in a clockwise direction therewith to separate it from the wall on which it is mounted.Y It will be apparent that by rotating this form of the tool in a counter clockwise direction, the pressure plate'36 is also caused to pivot` in a kcounter clockwise direction whereby molding 38 will be separated from the wall 40.

The use of the preferred and alternate forms of the invention have been previously set forth in detail and need not be repeated herein.

Although the forms of the invention herein shown and described are fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it

isto be understood that they are merelynillustrative of the presently preferred embodiment thereof and that I do not mean to limit myself to the details of construction herein shown and described other thanas defined in the appended claims. v Y

' I claim:

1. In a wrecking tool capable of use to dismantle both separated rigid members and to separate a .plurality of rigid members nailed together, comprising: an elongate 'rigid handle; two tines extending outwardly from a common end portion of said handle, the major portions of which tines are laterally separated from one another,

with a first one of said tines being substantially straight but having a slightly convex inner surface formed on the free end vportion thereof, the second oneot` said tines being longer than said rst tine and having a free end portion that curves toward. said irsttine,l the extremity of said, second tine being of chisel-likeconguration to permitforcibleinsertion of said second tine between two i ofvsaid members that are nailed together,.with the lateral spacing between the projecting portions of saidtnes being suflcient. topermit said tines ,to removably gripa stud to twist same loose from a building structure and to permit said second tine to be forcibly inserted between a wall structure and molding aixecl thereto, and said handle due to the curvature of said second tine extending upwardly and outwardly from said wall structure in a position convenient to use when said second tine is dis posed between said molding and Wall structure.

2. A Wrecking tool as defined in claim l in which said second tine is formed to provide a pressure plate that extends outwardlytransversely from two opposite sides thereof, which plate distributes the force applied to'the molding being separated to prevent the -splintering thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,330,092 Vanasse a Sept. 21, 1943 

